Envelop-machine.



To all whom it 'may concern.'

' UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM s. METCALFE, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNoE To UNITED STATES ENvELoPE COMPANY, oF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CoEPoEA'TIQN 0F MAINE.

.. ENvELoP-MACHINE.

. Beit known that I, LLIAM S. METCALEE,

a citizenof the United States, residing at lllorcester, 1n the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of MassachusettsQhave inventeda newandV useful Improvement in Envelop-Machines, of which the following is' a specification, accompanied b v drawings forming a part of the same, in which- Figure I .represen-ts a plan viewof that portion of an envelop vmachine which ernbodies mf present invention, the mechanism 4for gummi-ng andfolding-the envelop blank having been omitted. 2 is a side elevation o'thatportion of an envelop machine shown' in sectional view on line 2;-2, Fig. 1. ldigf'is`v a front elevation of that portion of the machine embodying my invention. Fig. 4f is a detailed and sectional view of the gripping device for seizing the transparent patches tol be applied to the openings in the envelop'blank. Fig. 5 is arear view of thel swinging bar for controlling the action of ythe gripping device. I Similar reference letters and, figures referv to similar parts in the different views.

My present invention relates to a mechanism for applying a transparent patch to cover anopening in an envelop blank in the posi:- tion cf the usual address in Vorder to provide a transparent panel capable of disclosing an address printed or'written upon the inclosure contained-in the envelop.` The mechanism b v which this resultis accom `lished i-spreferably embodied in -an' enve op machine by which the o erations of -gumming and folding the enve op blank are performed.

' In the accompanying drawings I have represented the mechanism embodying my present invention as forming the component part of such an envelop machinepbut for the urpose lof rendering the mechanism" embodying my invention more clear Lhave omitted the mechanisms for gummin'g-and foldinor the envelop blank. The gumming and fdlding mechanisms, however, are of the yusual* 'construction common in machinesof `this class and will be well' 'understoodby Specication of Letters Patent. Application filed January 9, 1905. Serial No. 240,138.

Patented June 1, 1909.

blanks, each of which is provided with an opening 3 -in the position of the usual address upon the envelop.

The shaded surface 4 denotes a gummed surface upon the edge of the back flap of the envelop, the shaded surface 5 denotes a gummed surface upon the edge of the seal flap of the envelop, and the shaded surface ,c'ally reciprocating gumming die, not shown inthe drawings. The application of thc gum to the u per surface-of the envelop blank causes t e gummed blank to ladhere to the gumining die and to be raised by its upward movement, and in the elevated position of the blank ahorzontally reciproeating carriage comprising the parallel rails 7, 7, is moved beneath lthe blank. The

gumnied blank supported upon the carriage and having its rear edge engaged by upwardly projecting hooks 8, 8, is moved over the surface oi a pressing table 9 upon the return movement of the carriage. The envelop blank is then in position to receive a patch of transparent paper to cover the opening 3 and be attached to the'gummed surface 6. The patches ,10' of ytransparent paper are supported upon a feeding table 11 to whichan upward movement isgiven by means of the usual' feeding apparatus employed in envole machines to ring the uppermost blani `in position to come in contact with ,a lifting mechanism which consists of a swinging arm .1.2, carriedupon a rocking shaft 13 and Supporting at its free end a suction device which -consists of a tube`14 capable of a slight sliding movement in a bracket 15 att-ached to thefree end ofthe arm 12.

The tube 14 is normally held in lits lowest position in' the bracket 15 by means of a spiralsprin A-l-'acting against.' the bracket 15, and a co lar 17 attached to the tube, and its ydownward movement is limited by a collar 18 attached 4'to the tube 14 above the bracket 15. The tube 14 is connected by a flexible tube 19 with a suctionpum 20 consisting of a 'piston equipped cylln er actuated by an leccentric 2,1. When the tube14 is in its normalposition with its open lower end resting Aupon the u per-most blank of the pileI 10 a vacuum will e formed' inthe tube is applied to close the jaw 24 against the sta- 'spindle "25 is provided with a crank arm 27 `framework of the machine motion js given to thegripping jaws 22 and wtimed'that as the gripping jaws are moved .movable aw 2,4 against the liXod jaw 22 and zing tabl:l Upitnls supported upon the upper 14 by the action of the suction pump 20, so that when the shaft 13 is rocked to raise the arm 12 the uppermost blank in the pile 10 willfo'llow the suction ftube and be lifted into position to be' seized by a gripplng device consisting of a stationary jaw 22 projecting from the end of a hub 23 and a movable jaw 24 carried on the end of a rocking s Iindle..25 journaled in the hub 23 and in-A c osed by a torsional spring 26 whose tension tionary;` jaw 22.L The opposite end of the carrying a pin 27 a which is held by the torsional spring-26 in Contact with the lowerA edge yof a bar 28 which is pivotallyv attached to the swinging'Y links 29 suspended'from the rlhe hub 23, carrying 'the gripping jaws 22 and 24 is attached to a vslidlng plate 30 connected by a linkv 31 with the crank arm 32, carried by a rotating shaft 33l `by which a reciprocating 24'to advance them in positlonto seize the ondot the transparent patch which has been Acarried on the rock shaft 43.

elevated fromthe. pile 1() and a reverse move- .nient draws the patch over the opening 3 in the envelop blank which has already been I positioned abovethe pressing -table 9 by the reciprcnrating. movement of the carriz'tge rails'` 7-. rThe opening and closing` -of the gripping jaws/is controlled by thc. movementoi' the bar which is given a'swinging movement-onthe links 29 by means of a link 34, pivotally connected to one end of the har 28, andcarrying at itsopposite end a cam roll 35 which is-actuated by aeam 36 on the shaft A horizontally reciprocating motion is then given to the bar 28 while a rising and falling motion is imparted to the bar by the swinging movement ofthe links 29. The crank arnr`32; and cam 36 are, relatively so forward :to inc'lose the .end of the elevated trai-ispar'ent patchthe har 28will be raised to allow the torsional spring to close the emain closed during the reverse movement of the gri ping jaws. "'rr'hen thel patch has been brot ght into position over the envclo i hlankthe cam .3G-allows the bar 2H to fall into contact with the pin 27a, thereby reversingthe action of'thetorsional spring 26 and opening the grip' ing jaws. As the transparent patch is (li'awn along by the grip'f'nngjaws to its 'position over the presssurface of a pair o1 horizontal blades otcd atone end upon posts 35hA Above the pressingl table 9 ls a hollow ver= tically rmfiprocating plunge!" 3l) carried upon 37 pivconnected byu llcvihlt` pipe 41, 4l., with a l plston equipped suction pum i. 42 actuated l )yan'acentric43 to exhaustt 1e air from the l hollow plunger 39. The plunger 39 is pro= `vided on its under surface with a series olA under side of the plunger, when the latter, h v

its downward movement, is brought into con tact with the patch supported upon the blades 37. The vertical movement olI thc plunger 39 is controlled by a cam 45 on the shaft 33 through the arms 46 and 47 carried on a rock shaft 4S. The arm 47 is pivotallv connected by a link 49 with the spindle ol the plunger to litt' the latter while its downward movement is accomplished by a spring 5U. YWhen the adherence ofthe transparent patch to the under side ol the plunger 39 is aecomplished, the gripping aws are opened h v the swinging movement ol the bar 2S against the crank pin 27*l and the blades 37 are separated by themovcment of a wedge shaped block 51 between )ins 52 projecting from the upper sides of t ie blades 37, one of which is shown in Fig. 3. The wedge shaped block 51 is attached to the outer end ot' a radial arm 53 The separation of the blades 37 allow tho plunger 39 to complete its descent. and carry the patch against the gummed surface 6 ol' the envelop blank and appl;Y sul'licient pressure to the patch to cause its lirm adhesion to the blank. At this point the suction through the holes -l-l is relieved by the reverse movement ol the piston in thc pump 42. The motion of thc several parts above described 'are then rc- -liooks 54, whih` the lirst pair oll hooks S hring the next succeeding lilanl into position over the pressing table transparent patch alread \A attached is moved by the hooks 54- t'orward over a rectanguhn opening in a creasing block 56, through which it is pushed h v a rectangular reciproeating plunger, not shown, in the usual inanner common in envelop machines, therehv carrying the creased blank downward to a folding hed by which the. opcrat ion ol folding` the flaps ot' thc envelop are completed. Journaled in the l'rznneworh oll thc machine is a main actuated sliai't 5T lo hich powcr is applied and from which through appropriate Connecting mechanism the movement s olL the patch controlling mechanism are operated in the manner above described. 'l`he rocking shaft 13 is actuated bj.' n cam 5S through :l

connecting rod o9 and radial arm ou, while .the Carriage rails T are rcciprocatcd in one The blank with thc esame having been separated by the wedgey shaped block 51 by .means of a spiralA spring 67. What I claim as mylinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. In an envelop machine, the combination with a pressing table for supporting an envelop blank, of means for holding a' pile of,

patches near said table, a stationary support for a single patch above said table,a iid means for transferring a -single patch from said pile on to the opposite side of'said support f/'rom said table.

' vtionwith a pressing .table for supporting an r 2. In an envelop machine, the combinaenvelop blank upon its upper surface, a reciprocating plunger arranged to descend u on said table, of fineans for holding a pile ci) patches near said table a 'stationary support'between said table and said plunger, means for transferring a single patch from said pile on to the'side of said support next to said plunger, and means for reciprocating said plunger.

3. In Aan envelop machine, the `combination with a pressing table for supporting an envelop blank, means near said table for holding a pile of patches, a stationary support over said table for a.single patch designed to be applied to said blank, ,means for transferring a single patch from said patch holdiiigineans to the's'ide of said support opposite to said table, supporting means for carrying said patch from said support into contact with said blank on said table, and means for applying pressure thereto.

4. In an envelop machine, the combination with a pressing table for supporting an envelpil) blank, of a support for a patch to be appli( to said envelop over said pressing table, Vmeans for holding a pile vof patches near saidsupport, means for transferring an individual patch 1n said Apile on to said support, a reciprocating plunger, and means for iolding.saidpatch against the under surface of said plunger. i

" tion with a pair of pressing surfaces, of means for moving an envelop blank having an opening therein between said pressing surfaces, means for supportinga pileof transparent patches at one side of -said pressing surfaces, means for selecting an individual patch from said pile, means for moving said selected patch between said pressing'surfaces and in a nie of movement at right angles to the line of movement of the envelop` blank, and

means for applying pressure to the 'envelop-- blank and patch.

7, In an envelop machine, the combination With a pressing table for supporting an envelop blank, and a reciprocating plunger,

of a table between said pressing table and said plunger, means for bringing-.a iatcli on to said table designed to be applic( to said blank, means for reci 'rocating said plunger, means for moving sai table outfof the down- Ward path of said plunger, and means carried by said lunger for supporting said, patch when said table is moved.

8.. In an envelop machine, the combination with a pressing table for supporting an envelop blank and a reciprocating plunger, of a stationary table for supporting a patch above said pressing table in the path of said plunger, said stationary table comprising pivoted members and means for separating said members after said plunger comes in contact with said patch upon said'stationary table.

9. In an envelop machine, the combination with a surface for resisting the pressure upon an envelop blank, a reciprocating plim-` ger for applying pressurel tothe envelop blank, a pair of reciprocating grippin jaws for drawing a patch over the envelop lank,

a pair of pivotedblades for supporting the patch, `and means for moving said blades out of the path of the reciprocating plunger.

10. In an envelop machine, the combination with a pressing tablefor supporting an envelop blank and a reciprocating plunger, of means for supporting a patch above said table and in the path of said plunger, and

means carried by said plunger to support' said patch and carry it from said irst menvtioned supporting means into contact with said blank on said pressing table;

11. The combination of` a table for supiA y porting an envelop blank having an opening to receive a transparent patch, of means for moving a transparent patch t'o a position in registration with the opening in the envelo blank While supported on said table, a ho low reciprocating plunger for 'pressing the patch upon the envelop blank and having openings in its pressing surface communieating with the interior of the plunger, and

.means for exhausting the air from said plunger.

` 12. The combination of a Vtable for sup-l.

porting an envelop blank, said blank having anopening to receive a transparent patch, a reciprocating plunger for pressing upon the envelop lank, means or moving a transparent patch beneath said IYplunger, means for im arting a downwa movement to said p unger, and means for holding the transparent patch against the under sirface of said plunger during its downward movement.

the patch` n Velop blank provided with an opening to rel 13. The combination vifith a pair of press-` ing surfaces for applying a transparent patch to an envelop blank and comprising a recipf rocating plunger, means for transferring a transparent patch beneath said plunger, means for attaching said patch to the pressing surface ofthe plunger, means for releasing thepatch from the transferring mechanism, and means for imparting a downward movement to said plunger. T

Q4. In an envelop machine, mechanism for applying a transparent patch to' an enceive said patch and comprising the followmglnstrumentalities in combination with a palr. of pressing surfaces acting'in the order the pressing surfaces and `in registration 90 With the opening in the envelop blank, means for adheringthe patch to one of the pressing surfaces, means for releasing ,the

.patch from its transferring mechanism, and.

:means for bringing thepressing surfaces! to- 25 gether. o VDated this 28th dayof December 1904.

WILLIAM s. MirrcALrE.

Witnesses: l PENELOPE QOMBERBACH, RUrUs B. FOWLER. 

